John,
Just my two cents, but it seems like the purpose of a Rampbash would be:
#1. provide an affordable area for members to gather, participate in their reunion, guitar pulls, or random activities.
#2. Options on activities regarding music. The fact that many shows would be availible are what made me suggest a thing.
And there would be no requirement on any of it. In Nashville, it is always overpopulated and lodging transportation and other nessesities are always at a premium.
The purpose of FRANK BROWN (not the FLORABAMA, that is just one venue, like the BLUEBIRD) would be that it recreates TIN PAN SOUTH as closely as it is done anywhere. 15-20 venues, with 2 shows a night, open mic shows, where the Rampers could participate, and continuous networking with professional songwriters, publishers and industry people, would be avaliable.
The purpose of FRANK BROWN (not the FLORABAMA, that is just one venue, like the BLUEBIRD) would be that it recreates TIN PAN SOUTH as closely as it is done anywhere. 15-20 venues, with 2 shows a night, open mic shows, where the Rampers could participate, and continuous networking with professional songwriters, publishers and industry people, would be avaliable.
#3. It has sugar white sandy beaches and temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees during the day, so it is very much like summer for most of the time.
#4. Location, location, location. While it sounds like all the places are congested, they are actually spread out quite evenly. There are many locations, for instance, the Regatta, condominiums, where you would not even know a festival is going on. It has very private rooms. It is a three story condo complex with around 50 units. People from all over stay there and the noise is nearly non-existent. Yet, almost any venue you would want to visit is within 10-15-20 minutes away. It is directly on the beach, five feet from the coast. Yet, it is bordered by resturants and bars all around it, souvineir shops, are across the street.
In my 21 years down there, it is the most centrally located place I have ever stayed. So it could allow for minimal congestion and walking access for members to shop, eat, lay on the beach, and they could have their own guitar pulls. Grocery stores are five minutes away and there are many places offering fresh caught seafood, crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp, that members could purchase and bring back to their fully stocked condos, and could cook themselves. Each condo has between 2-3 bedrooms, some have lofts. The one I am usually in could sleep between 8-10 people easily.
Therefore, just a few cars could get everyone around easily.
It is located 25 minutes from the PENSACOLA, Florida AIRPORT, and around 50 minutes from the MOBILE ALABAMA airport.
In my 21 years down there, it is the most centrally located place I have ever stayed. So it could allow for minimal congestion and walking access for members to shop, eat, lay on the beach, and they could have their own guitar pulls. Grocery stores are five minutes away and there are many places offering fresh caught seafood, crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp, that members could purchase and bring back to their fully stocked condos, and could cook themselves. Each condo has between 2-3 bedrooms, some have lofts. The one I am usually in could sleep between 8-10 people easily.
Therefore, just a few cars could get everyone around easily.
It is located 25 minutes from the PENSACOLA, Florida AIRPORT, and around 50 minutes from the MOBILE ALABAMA airport.
#4. Plenty of resturants bars, fresh seafood and an area most have never visited before. There are many other activities, swimming, fishing, golf, tourist shopping, museums, and all the things you would get in an Ocean tourist area.
#5. Being OFF SEASON for businesses, (the main summer season ends in Labor Day in Sept. and picks up at the end of November, when "SNOWBIRDS" (people from Northern states) come in. It is a "lull" in the activities, so prices are at an all year low. It would be a boom for the local tourism and an area very unspoiled compared to the rest of the Florida Alabama coast.
So that was the reason I suggested it. Having been involved in many of the Ramp bashes before, understanding some of the comments both positive and negative, I thought it might make an interesting thing to consider. Going on what I have always heard from most of the members as to what they wanted out of a Rampbash, it seemed to make as much sense as any other suggestions I have heard.
MAB
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